Locomotive coaling apparatus



Dec. 14, 1948. J. E. oBRlEN 2,456,303

A LOCOMOTIVE COALING APPARATUS v Filed May 2e, 1944 s `sheets-sheet 2 JAMES E. O'BRIEN.

@QMMEM Dec. 14, 1948. J. E. OBRIEN 2,456,308

LOCOMOTIVE COALING `MJPARTUS Filed May 2e, 1944 6 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. M, 1948. J. E. o'BRL-:N

' LocoMoTIvE COALING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2e, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 14, 1948. J. oBRlEN 2,456,308l

LOCOMOTIVE COALING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1944 e sheets-shed 5 JAM Els ESYEWN.

f ya #@MMM Patented Dec. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE LocoMotrrvi-:COALIN'G APPARATUS '.l' ames OBrien Cleveland, Ohio Application May I2e, 1944,1seria'1 No. 53:7;69

iclaims. (01.214-41) once the tender has been spotted relative -tothe coal tower and whereby the tender can be serviced in such rapid manner 'that the train Imay stand on the main line or high speed track.

Heretofore it has been the practice to use an open or ap-ron type coal chute leading from an elevated coal hopper having either a central bottom discharge opening or a side walldischarge with apron type chute arranged to be lowered or sloped downward suiiiciently for coal to flowover it. Such coaling arrangements necessitatemoving the locomotive to distribute the coal inthe tender coal box and the engine men had to exercisegoonsiderable manual effort -in assisting in thetrimming or distributing of thecoal as it was discharged into the tender. Moving the locomotive with or without the train several times a` few feet at a time'resulting in wear and tearg'on loco'- motive equipment such'as draw bars, train brakes, etc., and also in waste of power and timev in moving the locomotive and train. At locomotive -ter-` minals, engine hostlers had to move locomotives several times to completely coal the tenders, which made hostlers go back and forth `from locomoctivecab to coaling apparatus tomove the locomotive a few feet and thus charge vthe tender with a few tons each time until the tender was flled. After the coaling the locomotive was then shifted to permit the entering of -a stand pipe or other type of watering device into the water hatch of the tender to charge the tender with gwater. This entire servicing operation 'usually required the ldelaying of the train for a time period. of from 8 to 14 minutes, depending upon the amounts of coal and water required.

In accordance with the provisions 'of my in'- ven-tion the coal is discharged into the locomotive tender at the rate of about tons per mini ut'e, `during which time 'the apparatus functions to spread or vtrim the coal in the tender so that, for example, a thirty-ton capacity co'al lbox 26 ft. long may be lled properly in about vone and onehalf minutes, without moving the locomotive or train after the tender has been spotted in coaling position. The'arrange'ment is such thatthe Water servicing of the tender may also be effected fat the same station and the entire servicing time reduced 'to a .period of 'about three `to four min- 2 utes, depending upon the amounts `0f coal and water required.

Amongthe objects of" my invention is the'provision of an enclosed ycoaling chute supported for lshifting Vinoiernent relative to the track or longitudinal dimension of the coal 'box of the tender with associated mechanism for effecting the AAoperation thereof; the provisionrof a'construction which will be of sufficient rigidity and ru'gg'e'dn'ess to provide for such suspension :and operationof the 'coalfchute under heavy tonnage discharge conditions andthe arrangement being such 'that the apparatus may be voperated b`y an attendant or thel locomotive fireman stationed f on an operating vpl'atformof the coal hopper or tower structure. The operating platform may be located at any point 'convenient to'obser've filling of the vcoal box'while operating'the apparatus.`

The apparatus maybe power `driven or manually opeatedand the entire arrangement is such thatvisibility Aof the co'aludischarge is afforded the operator or fireman when stationed on ythe operating platform.. l,

To'th'e accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said'invention, then, consists of the means. hereinafter fully. described and. particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth inv detail certain structure embodying Vthe invention, such disclosed structure constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in wllchthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

1 is afront elevation of a locomotive coaling apparatus embodying the features of my invention as viewedl from thetrack side and illustrating ,they elevational disposition thereof rela-f tive to the tender of a locomotive spotted at the coaling. station; v v

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus yfor operatingthe coaling chute while the coal is being discharged therethrough and as viewed by the irregular plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3. is. an enlarged side view of the chute structure per se; A

Fig.y 4 isa Itop view shown in Fig. 3;.

`of the chute structure as Fig. 5A is a cros'sfsectional detail taken on the plane indicatedby the line 51-5 of Fig. 3 through one of two pivot bearings on the chute;

Figs. 6:. and 'lare side vviewsof apart .of the.

cable winding mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 for swinging the coalingchute;

Fig, 8 ,is a fragmentary side elevational View of the pivotal mounting structurel associated with the coal gate `Iof the hopper for pivotally suspendi1ig `th e coal receiving end lof the chute relative i0 the hpper safe;

Fig. 9 isha plan view oi the chute suspending means shown in Figs. 1 and 8;

Fig. is a detail of part of the cable rigging for taking up the slack in one of the cables which swing the chute; y K

Fig. 11 is an elevational View? of the rigging shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a further detail of part of the slac cable rigging;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the cable rigging parts shown in Fig. 12; y

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional detail through one of the cable sheaves when taken substantially along the line |4-i4 of Fig. 10;

Fig. l5 is a plan view of a modified form of chute operating means whereby the use of chute swinging cables is eliminated; y

Fig. 16 is an elevational View of the modified chute operating means shown in Fig.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of the chute structure to be used with-the modified form of chute operating mechanism shown in Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 18 is a plan view ofthe chute structure shown in'Fig. 17; Y.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken through the modiiied form of chute structure shown along the lines I 9-I9 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the plane indicated by the line 20--20 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is a side elevational view of the coaling apparatus shown in Fig. 1 when equipped with;

by the line 22--22 of Fig. 21; vf

Fig. 23 is a side elevational t.view of theehute and hopper coal gate indicating thev installation of electrical heating means in lieu of steam heating means;

Fig.Y 24 is an enlarged side elevational view of Y the pivotal end of the chute and the coal gate structure shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is an elevational view of a track side towervstructure showing the manner of adaptingI my invention thereto;

Fig. 26 is a track side view of the chute struc-` ture shown in Fig. 25; and

Fig. 27 is an elevational View of a modification of the coaling apparatus` associated with a water;

tower in a track coaling plant whereby simul' taneous coaling and watering of the engine tender may be effected. Y.

My invention contemplatesthe provision of a swingable coaling chutevof the closed or nozzle type pivotally suspended at an enlarged coal receiving end thereothe enlarged end being of such shape that the chute may be swung from' substantially horizontal locomotive clearingposition downwardly on an arc vof from 140 to 150' while receiving coal from the coal gate of the. hopper or `bin. This swinging movement alsocan be effected through an arc which extends on bothv sides of a vertical plane passing through the pivotal bearings of the chute, whereby the chute may act as a nozzle in directing the coal flowing therethrough from end to end of thetender. The axis of the pivotal mounting for the chute is arranged to extend normally of the tracks or right of way and the tender is spotted on the trackso that the mid-region thereof is substantially beneath the pivotal mounting of the chute. The coal gate of the hopper` is provided with a swinging closure or. coal shut-off means in a known manner, but disposed substantially within iiow of coal.

an enlarged coal receiving end of the chute structure. The coal gate is maintained closed when the chute is swung upwardly into a substantially horizontal and locked non-coaling position. The entire arrangement is such that the operator at the coaling station, a hostler or the fireman, may unlock the chute and lower the same until the discharge end of the chute is directed toward one end of the tender, whereupon the coal is released to discharge through the chute and the chute is gradually swung in an arc until the chute is directed at the opposite end of the tender. During this swinging movement coal is discharged through the chute in a very rapid but controlled manner and the operating means provides positive control of the chute to spread and trim the coal as and when it is discharged into the coal box. The elevational disposition of the chute and the length thereof are such that all angles of the coal discharge within the swinging arc of the chute relative to a vertical plane are well below the angle of repose of coal, regardless of the physical condition of the coal. The coaling of the tender may be eiiected in one or more swinging cycles of the chute as desired.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the coaling plant is of the track straddling type, that is, a tower structure supports an operators platform disposed over the track at such an elevation that a train may pass therebeneath without obstruction and the tower structure supports a hopper or c'oal bin, into which the coal may be discharged by conveyor, elevator, grab bucket or other suitable elevating means. It is also possible to adapt the invention to use with a coal elevating means where no elevated hopper or storage bin is present. For example, it may be adapted to a direct coaling machine.

' The elevational disposition of the entire apparatus relative to the railroad tracks is indicated by the position of the tender of a locomotive, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.

The operators platform 38 is disposed a substantial distance from the tracks 3| for the purpose stated and may be supported by four columns 32 or other suitable structure. The coal hopper structure illustrated has a pyrimidically shaped bottom 35 converging to a downwardly extending discharge throat 36 substantially square in crosssectional structure, as shown in Fig. 2, and the bottom thereof terminates at about the level of the platform structure of the tower.

To the bottom of the hopper throat 36 is secured a coal gate structure 38, see Figs. 8 and 9. The coal gate structure extends downwardly and at a xed angle, at which coal will iiow by gravity, relative to the throat structure 36. The gate mechanism is provided with a coal stop or shutoff mechanism in the form of a swinging gate 40 of an arcuate shape to swing about a pivotal mounting 4i on the gate structure to cooperate with complementarily formed edges on the discharge end of the gate structure to shut off the The gate 40 may be swung by any suitable means operated from the operators platform. In Figs. 1 and 24 such means is indicated as gears 42 suitably mounted on a shaft 43 to engage fan gears 40a comprising part of the gate f structure 40. A sprocket 44, driven by chain d5,

acomode The acoaling a' chute or no'zzlellarmayfbe: co'n-ilf nect'ed directl'yrto; or ybe-associatedl with;l thefccalz, gate y,structure in suehiinanner `*as 1toriperrnitetlie'4fA 5 desireclcontrolled shiftingf'm'ovement:thereof and I prefer the connection to "befpivotal: instrueturef'. The shapeof'fthefjcliute-isl suclnithatv thexcoali'f receiving end thereof is f; ofi nvel desienfradfi-'s sufficientlyl'large v:to iextendeover-iandziarouridethei-m discharge` opening f of the i coaeligate` structurer. whatever that gaterfstructure mayrber, Inet construction fshownuherein-the coal :gate chute Ell isshownias a taperedrboxdike strueturewith onen:

plate-radial at the upperrendete divert'athefeli-rece?f154 tionT or the flow `of coal seefFigss; 1,:,3rzand'14, `of:e suicient width andflengthipatfthe upper. endffv thereof to t over andf^swing=zabout-` the discharge endeoffethe coal gate structure;- Ifprovi-drreinegforcing v bearingplates 2:@- welded@ or" otherwise attached to the side walls of thiefchutestructurerA4 whereby, the-chute-maybe=pivotally@mounted-11pon'fthe pivot pins il I which-'also vpivot-ally;supporti` thefcoal gate; Additionalsupport for the'pinssxl ispr-OVided in the formotadependingf yoke struc-f a turefi-` see. Figs.` 8 and 9; attached to:.thesloweien part of the hopper throatfstructu-rez 35:.r It will bey appa-rentr to those skilled fini the-f art that otherl; suitablemounting `may beeprovidedV for the coa-1f; chute to inai-ntain: ther saine inthet snif-table@ operating relation described relative toath'e.boah gate,L

Towswing the Y chute/'50 @about thef-pivotfpins.- :14 l I provide a duplex .cablearrangementcomprising, acable reach A56, which `extends upwardly ,overl-an cable winding. drinny 5l and afcable`Y reach ,g 58e which yextends over a cable Windingfdrum. 59;v the;v lowerfends of. thesecables being'.V attached atg'SB and 5l!a to the loweriend.ot'tlzrefehutefirriany. convenient man-ner,- see-Figs;l 15 2,6wand '7p The two cable drurnse 5l and y 59 arec operaftedcl sirnuiltaneousl-y whereby one cable y: ist; unwound ,fr while. the other is-being-:wound ab'outiitsifdrumc Thus :the cables. may be maintained imei/nohref nous relationby a'f chain-f r-.disposedi atfa co venient distance above theoperatorsfplatform 31M which passesVv oven: sprockets Gil one, tl'i'ef drum'z slfiaftsf'z! and 66.:` Theadrumff'lf'ise-mounted upon; the -shafti512-v and the i shaft- 62" is supported',by-v bearingsy 63 carried. on ai sui-table` structure/l1;- framework. 64 extending. gupw-ardly: fremithe p1-.ate form structure and by structurall framework-: 64e? extending downward i from t-hefbin hopper: supe ports.M The drum' 59 is'-supportedfon-thefshaft ,66e andrthe shaft litv is:supperted,ibyl bearings 2in1; the latter 'being supportedsby: astructuralffrarnerV` work y 10: installed; one` they operating:y oorgatv/a position opposite to structural frainefworlniGaland` 64e relativeto the chute. As s-tated-,-thechaini60 extends over sprockets yl l-, which `arefof1 theA same. diametercarried respectively bythe shaftsfztZ-andf 66. Y The shaftluis driven by af gearfllwwhiclr; meshesA a pinion'l!` onfa stub shaftf'gsuitabhtsupported .on the structural` framework A 10;; shaftr 'l3iand gear 'l2 being driven byi'a-,hand,wlfleel"- 1A, F disposed at a convenient heightA above the iuorw` of the operators platform 30.- 'Il'ius',` wherr the operator turns the hand Ywheel 'Mirthe cable drums. 51 andfaredrivenfin unison-andthe cable leads.-Y

tothe? drums are, arranged so that asaonedrum,` 70

uri-winds itsfcable -reach theother druif-n.:willgwindv up .thetother cable reach. I

In. order *that` the: coal ehutefvmayrbe; swung;- f'rornz. the.A inoperative substantially horizontal-,v position shownbythe dotted;l linesirrsFi-g. Land;

indica-tedilby'the reference :character1-A;fdowrrt fr.

tl'i'er beginning-fof; the r'st vcoal-ing` position dicated lby the clottedjlinesfina-Fig.v 1 andfjb their reference lcharacter; B, as Welly,l as ithrpughf;v al1-. xl angular "coaling positions?y from B,y to.- .De Land.. at 5H the Vsame. time maintain,i the two;y cablereaches 56 j and 58 :in a Lsubstantially--taut conditional;-` have-:providedva cable slack talee-up,gnieclianisrrhl Which-:acts-on-the :cable reachyli without unduly f burdenin'g manual-operation fof Athe :chuteeandir` whichacomprises :the following swinging Yelements andVA associated" xed-sheavepv Attached1tof-lilic1 under-zsidei of the coal gate structurer 38; is -a- .de=.A pending bracket-J8 supportingasheave blockfll` and anridlergsheave 80 and sheave shaftfilfover which the-cablefreach SBfeXtends. Attachedtov a pair of spaceolf.'V apart angle members 8| (see- Figs-f1; ljandillv),l comprising lziarti'off-the en-f, closure structure forrthe :operators fplatform; s-g,-

`l a Tdepending' swingable ,sheavefsupporting@ yoke;

structure-fin theeform; ofytwotspaced: apart arms; 82lihavingf-1attached to the -lowersend thereot aj sheaveblockr 83..'which carries a-vshea-ve S4 which--4v revolves onqpin; S84@ A pirr 85, supported-by-tl1efy structuralf members 81,' perrnitsg-an` upwardly.` swinging. movement of-the arm rstructurev2;r to theposition,show-nv in dotted lines finrFig: l; The;- sheave [block: structure 83.1is'suchi as toymaintain the cable reach: 58 -on sheave 1Sil-{regardless-ofthe lcounterweigln-t serving-1 toiitend-to maintain the;4`

swingingf sheave 84 .inv an upward-positionne; keep;-

cab1e-reachf58-tautf i L To maintain the cable-reach 5min; prcper-rwindf;v

ing-relation to Vthetdrum 59 at allitimespirrespecgtive of the posit-longertheslacktake-upgsheave 84a,

I provider` aslfieavel meinber- 93 andl a; sheaver block`v 94 f supported by..4 Lfshaped; brackets; 95; fixed to theistructural membersf 8l, a-nd'whi cl-1 are p disposedl to' be l spanned; by the;y arm. members i 82 1 i :so that, irrespective of therswungxposition offthe i manipulation of the chute 50 kdurir'ig:thercoa'ling;.

1:, operator;l yA'lso': armsl ST9 lare fcon'structdr to not.

f slack.;` taleeup; etc., andi' whienfrnayl coni-prise afitasos i arcuate1segment`-racks |02, the gear teeth' of which are concentric about the pivot bearingv 42 offthe chute, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The chute here may be of the same general construction as the Achute structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with' the enlarged ends of the side walls of the chute arcuate in structure to serve as supports for the segment gears |02 and counterweights |025. the segmentgears |02 being secured tothe sidewalls of the chute structure with rivets or with tted bolts', as shown in Fig. 20. Counterweights |02a are applied on center line of gravity of chute "to obtain perfect balance and provide easy and rapid operation of the chute.

Referring again to Figs. and 16, it will be seenthat I provide pinions |03 which mesh with tlie"-segment gears |02, the pinions being carried ona shaft |04 supported by any suitable frame structure attached to the operators platform. Shaft |04 carries a gear |05, driven by a pinion |05 on shaft |01, which carries a gear |08 driven by a'third pinion |09 on shaft H0. Shaft ||0 carries a sprocket' driven by a chain ||2 which passes over sprocket ||3 located at the operators position on the platform. Sprocket ||3Iis mounted' on a shaft ||4 which carries a hand wheel 5, the shaft being supported by suitable frame structure, not shown. In this arrangement the means for operating or swinging the chute may lalso include a sprocket mounted on the shaft ||0 in immediate associationvwith a hand wheel |1 and a sprocket mounted upon a'stub shaft on an operating platform disposed to one side of the track Within reach of the fireman or hostler, whereby either engine man orhostler mayoperate the chute in the manner desired.

In Figs. and 26 I have shown the shape of the coal chute structure when the same is to be used withthe track-side type of hopper construction.v The hopper is provided with a coal gate structure |130V extending outwardly toward the tracks, and the lower part of the swingable chute is constructed in an offset manner to have the part thereof intermediate the upper f and lower ends of the coal chute extending outwardly atan angle, as generally shown at 3| in Fig. 25.

'I'he amount of this offset is such that the discharge end |32 of the chute will be disposed immediately over the center line of the track. One or the other of the chute swingingl means hereinbefore described may be utilized to swing this type of chute mounting in the manner and with the same facilityas the operation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

In order to have the apparatus describedv operable underall weather conditions I have provided means for maintaining the coal in the gate structureheated to prevent the freezing of wet coal. In Figs. 21 and 22 I have provided meansr for heating the coal located in the coal gate structure ,andy in the hopper throat, which may comprise a heating plant |40 located Within the operators enclosure through piping |4| to sets of steam coils |42 and |43, and which are juxtaposed to the walls of the throat structure 36 and enclosed by an insulating housing |45. A branch pipe line |46extends from the heating pipe |4| tofheating coils |41 arranged about the coal gate walls and enclosed by an insulating housing |48. Condensate is drained in suitable manner through drip line |-4 Thermal responsive regulators may .be disposed within the housing if desired.

In Figs. 23 and 24 I show; an electrical heating' system comprising resistance heaters |50, ar-

ranged about the walls of the throat structure 36 of the hopper within the insulating housing |45 and resistance heating elements |52 Within the insulating housing |48. It will be apparent to those skilled vin the art that either system can be utilized with equal facility, and through the useV of thermal responsive controls if desired.

In Figs. 1 and 21 I show a chute closure means in the form of a weather shield plate |60 depend- `upward by exhaust pressure of locomotives 'passing under the chute;

Any convenient latching means may serve to lock the chute in an inoperative position. A hook latch |65 pivotally attached to the throat structure 36 ofthe hopper may engage the top of one of the structural members |66 of the chute construction upon the upward swinging of the chute. A cord |61 is attached to the free end of the latch and the cord is extended to the operators position in any suitable manner for convenient releasin of the latch.

In Fig. 27 I have shown a third arrangement of a shiftable chute suspension associated with a track-side coaling station hopper structure, `wherein the coal gate comprises a tubular or square shaped structure |60 connected to the bottom structure |6| of a storage hopper and extending from the hopper bottom outwardly to a position spanning the center line of the track. The chute 50 can be pivotally mounted, as herein before described, upon the coal gate structure 38 and the chute operating means is generally represented by cable drum shaft |65 to indicate the relative disposition of the operating means of the chute and the operators platform |68, whereby'v the water tower can be so located in immediate juxtaposition to the 'coaling station that the tender of the locomotive may be coaled and watered simultaneously. The water tower comprises a riser main or pipe |10, an outwardly extending branch |1|, a swivel mechanism |12, aV down pipe |13 and a nozzle |14 pivotally suspended to the lower part of the down pipe |13. The nozzle thus can be manipulated transversely of the tender and into the tender water hatch. The subject ing a coal discharge throat structure slopingA downwardly over a railroad track, a closed type coaling chute, said chute having one open end' adapted to overlie the discharge end of said throat, means for pivotally supporting saidchute on an axist extending in a direction transversely of the lrailroad track and through said throatwhereby said chute may be raised to a substantially horizontal position and extending in the general direction of the slope of said throat and having one edge of said end extending adjacent the lower edge of the discharge opening of said throat and the opposite edge of said end opening extended to lie adjacent the upper side of said throat, and whereby said chute may be swung from said substantially horizontal position about said axis downwardly and to a position in which it slopes in the opposite direction from the slope of said throat, the said one edge of the chute being adapted to lie transversely of the bottom side of said throat and said opposite edge being adapted to lie substantially in a horizontal plane through the upper edge of the discharge opening of said throat and spaced from said upper edge for forming a coal passage therebetween, and means for swinging said chute about its axis.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a railroad coaling hopper having a coal discharge throat structure sloping downwardly over a railroad track, a coal gate at the outlet of said thro-at member, said gate being swingable to and from a position over the outlet of said throat, a closed type coaling chute, said chute having one open end adapted to overlie the discharge end of said thro-at, means for pivotally supporting said chute on an axis extending in a direction transversely of the railroad track and through said throat whereby said chute may be raised to a substantially horizontal position and extending in the general direction of the slope of said throat and having one edge of said end opening extending adjacent the lower edge of the discharge opening of said throat and the opposite edge of said end extended to lie adjacent the upper side of said throat, said chute when in said position, being adapted to overlie said gate, and whereby said chute may be swung from said substantially horizontal position about said axis downwardly and to a position sloping in the opposite direction than that of said throat, said one edge of the chute being adapted to lie transversely of the bottom side of said throat and said opposite edge being adapted to lie substantially in a horizontal plane through the upper edge of the discharge opening of said throat and spaced from said upper edge for forming a coal passage therebetween, means for operating said gate, and means for swinging said chute about its axis.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a railroad coaling hopper having a coal discharge throat structure sloping downwardly over a railroad track, a coal gate at the outlet of said throat member, said gate being swingable to and from a position over the outlet of said throat, a closed type coaling chute, said chute having one open end adapted to loosely overlie the discharge end of said throat, means for pivotally supporting said chute on an axis extending in a direction transversely of the railroad track and through said throat whereby said chute may be raised to a substantially horizontal position and extending in the general direction of the slope of said throat and having one edge of said end opening extending adjacent the lower edge of the discharge opening of said throat and the opposite edge of said end opening extended to lie adjacent the upper side of said throat, said chute when in said position, being adapted to overlie said gate, and whereby said chute may be swung from said substantially horizontal position about said axis downwardly and to a position sloping in the opposite direction than that of said throat, said one edge of the chute being adapted to lie transversely of the bottom side` of said throat and said opposite edge being adapted to lie substantially in a horizontal plane through the upper edge of the discharge opening of said throat and spaced from said upper edge for forming a coal passage therebetween, xed means forming a wall member disposed adjacent to and transversely of the end of said chute opposite said one end when said chute is raised to the substantially horizontal position, means for operating said gate, and means for swinging said chute about its axis.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a railroad coaling hopper having a coal discharge throat structure sloping downwardly over a railroad track, a closed type coaling chute, said chute having one open end adapted to overlie the discharge end of said throat, means for pivotally supporting said chute on an axis extending in a direction transversely of the railroad track and through said throat whereby said chute mayI be raised to a substantially horizontal position and extending in the general direction of the slope of said throat and having one edge of said end extending adjacent the lower edge of the discharge opening of said throat and the opposite edge of said end opening extended to lie adjacent the upper side of said throat, and whereby said chute may be swung from said substantially horizontal position about said axis downwardly and to a position in which it slopes in the opposite direction from the slope of said throat, the said one edge of the chute f being adapted to lie transversely of the bottom side ofsaid throat and said opposite edge being adapted to lie substantially in a horizontal plane through the upper edge of the discharge opening of said throat, and spaced from said upper edge for forming a coal passage therebetween, an arm attached to said chute at one side thereof and extending beyond said one end, the extended portion of said arm having a reversed curve therein for disposing the end portion of said arm substantially on the longitudinal center of gravity of the chute, and means for swinging said chute about its axis.

JAMES E. O-BRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 180,335 Fuller et al July 25, 1876 591,596 Fliedner Oct. 12, 1897 720,428 Hetzel Feb. 10, 1903 790,073 McMyler May 16, 1905 834,944 Stevens Nov. 6, 1906 918,418 Berg Apr. 13, 1909 984,551 Freeland Feb. 21, 1911 1,032,665 Gilmore July 16, 1912 1,077,976 Fosselman Nov. 11, 1913 1,408,466 Pendry Mar. '7, 1922 1,423,854 Howard July 25, 1922 1,448,272 Kelly Mar. 13, 1923 1,863,028 Pardee June 14, 1932 2,216,742 Kaltenbach Oct. 8, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,939 Great Britain June 1902 570,328 France Jan. 15, 1924 708,984

France May 5, 1931 

